Sterling Griggs

Be honest. How many of you have purposefully hid or turned in the opposite direction when you see that person or refused to answer your phone when that person's name shows up on the caller ID? Have you absolutely refused to make eye contact with that person who is begging for change at an intersection or pretended like you aren't home with those people ring your doorbell? I'll be honest, I have done all of those things. Why do we avoid certain people or groups of people who cross our paths? For some there may be a history involved where safety is an issue, yet for the majority of us our rationale is different. That person irritates you or you simply don't have the time to engage them in what will surely be a lengthy conversation. Those people are not like you and you don't know how to relate to them in a positive way. That person will only take what you give him and squander it on something shameful. Those people believe in something totally different than...

I've been reading Danny Akin's 10 Who Changed the World , an account of some of the Christian faith's most dedicated and faithful missionaries whose tireless work for Christ brought the gospel to the far reaches of the world. As I read about the lives of such men and women as William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and Lottie Moon, I have been completely humbled by their commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission regardless of the costs that were demanded of them. What has struck me as I have read the life stories of these heroes of the faith is how they did without basic necessities and comforts while in the field. They lived among the people that they served - not in spite of them - and their love for the lost was abundant. Lottie Moon, missionary to China, truly understood what it meant to live among the people that she longed to see embrace the gospel of Jesus. Coming from an aristocratic upbringing in Virginia, Lottie endured unfavorable living conditions while in China ...

Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to visit and attend a few dozen churches. In some of those churches I held membership, employment, or was speaking there, but most have been places I have visited while away from home or simply out of curiosity. I have always experienced a sense of anticipation when I would visit a new place of worship, wondering what the service would be like, if the people were friendly, if there was a sweet spirit about the place. I remember visiting a small country church while on a mission trip several years ago where the group of students I had with me almost outnumbered the amount of people in the congregation. The people were friendly enough and it was obvious that the church followed a more "old school" style of worship. We sang some of the old hymns, sat through a few announcements, and then it was time for the pastor to deliver his sermon. Apparently this church was in a bit of a crisis because it wasn't long before the pastor w...

This past weekend my family completed a whirlwind trip back home to Winston-Salem. The original reason for our return was for a wedding and a graduation party, yet the amount of activities we committed ourselves to grew exponentially before it was time to come back to Southport. Regardless of how crazy our schedule was, the time we spent with family and friends was irreplaceable. Though it was great being back with people who have meant so much to us over the years, it was just as satisfying to pull into our driveway last night and be back in our own home. One thing that my wife and I have jealously pursued is to make sure that wherever we are as a family, that is our home. That may sound odd to some but for us it means that location becomes irrelevant when our family is together. Home is not defined by a building or a location. It is defined by the people that God has blessed us with. Home means many things to many people. For me and my family it is defined by a set of values tha...